Standard Lemma guide

indefensible

adj · 6 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • CMU ARPABET: IH2 N D IH0 F EH1 N S AH0 B AH0 L Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

adj

Meaning 1

Not defensible; not capable of being defended.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: vulnerable

Antonyms: none provided

2

adj

Meaning 2

Not capable of being justified or excused.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: figuratively

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: inexcusable, unpardonable, untenable

Antonyms: none provided

3

adj

Meaning 3

Incapable of being explained.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: untenable, insupportable, invalid

Antonyms: none provided

4

adjective satellite

Meaning 4

incapable of being justified or explained

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: insupportable, unjustifiable, unwarrantable, unwarranted

Antonyms: none provided

5

adjective satellite

Meaning 5

(of theories etc) incapable of being defended or justified

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: untenable

Antonyms: none provided

6

adjective satellite

Meaning 6

not able to be protected against attack

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *né Proto-Indo-European *n̥- Proto-Italic *n̥- Latin in-bor. Middle English in- English in- English defensible English indefensible From in- + defensible.

Across languages

Translations

35 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: незащитен (nezaštiten) — not capable of being defended
  • Bulgarian: беззащитен (bezzaštiten) — not capable of being defended
  • Catalan: indefensable — not capable of being defended
  • Finnish: mahdoton puolustaa — not capable of being defended
  • Finnish: puolustuskelvoton — not capable of being defended
  • Greek: αδικαιολόγητος (adikaiológitos) — not capable of being defended
  • Polish: nie do obrony — not capable of being defended
  • Romanian: neapărabil — not capable of being defended
  • Romanian: de neapărat — not capable of being defended
  • Romanian: imposibil de apărat — not capable of being defended
  • Spanish: indefendible — not capable of being defended
  • Spanish: indefensible — not capable of being defended
  • Spanish: indefensable — not capable of being defended
  • Swedish: försvarslös — not capable of being defended
  • Bulgarian: непростим (neprostim) — incapable of being justified
  • Catalan: indefensable — incapable of being justified
  • Dutch: onverdedigbaar — incapable of being justified
  • Finnish: mahdoton perustella — incapable of being justified
  • Finnish: mahdoton puolustella — incapable of being justified
  • French: indéfendable — incapable of being justified
  • Galician: indefendible — incapable of being justified
  • German: unvertretbar — incapable of being justified
  • German: unhaltbar — incapable of being justified
  • Greek: αδικαιολόγητος (adikaiológitos) — incapable of being justified
  • Italian: indifendibile — incapable of being justified
  • Polish: niewybaczalny — incapable of being justified
  • Polish: nieuzasadniony — incapable of being justified
  • Polish: niedopuszczalny — incapable of being justified
  • Romanian: nefundamentat — incapable of being justified
  • Romanian: nejustificabil — incapable of being justified
  • Romanian: de neiertat — incapable of being justified
  • Spanish: indefendible — incapable of being justified
  • Spanish: indefensible — incapable of being justified
  • Spanish: indefensable — incapable of being justified
  • Swedish: oförsvarlig — incapable of being justified